Seeking validation

Increased system complexity poses new challenges for software design and ECU system validation, mandating the need for simulation tools that can easily handle the complexity, while providing cost-effective, industry-proven verification tools and processes.

Hybrid and electric drive (e-drive) control systems are being developed for many types of platforms in the aerospace, automotive, and commercial vehicle industries. The market for e-drive and hybrid systems has mandated advanced control for integration of these electric machines with modern powertrain technology and cutting-edge energy storage systems. Battery management systems (BMS) play a pivotal role in these systems as they control the energy storage and facilitate the practicality and safety of e-drives and hybrid vehicles. The motor controller technology has also demanded changes in the component and integration development and test systems as the simulation of the motors necessitates higher-levels of computation and precision to yield accurate closed-loop simulation results. These systems also tend to utilize distributed electronic <bold>Hardware-in-the-loop integration testing using virtual ECUs.</bold> control units (ECUs), which adds yet another level of increased complexity for integration testing and development.

Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation is the de-facto standard in multiple industries for testing ECUs and integrated control systems. However, e-drive ECU testing requires specific types of hardware, depending on the interfaces for test and BMS also require very specific hardware and modeling approaches, depending on the distribution of components within the energy control ECUs. Electric drive systems use both motor speed and current to close the loop, so the details of these interfaces and power loads must be considered. These control loops in electric drive applications require a high-speed real-time dynamic response, which entails the use of higher-fidelity models with stable control dynamics that can close the loop. The required time resolution for signal measurement is in the sub-μs range, and these measurements have to fit to a model of the power electronics where switching delays and dead times are handled. Also, different applications, <bold>There are many different platform architectures for hybrid and e-drive vehicles in the industry. One example is a parallel hybrid architecture (shown).</bold> such as sensorless brushless dc (BLDC) motors necessitate the use of specific interfaces for back- EMF simulation to assure proper testing functionality.